Prevagen®: Analysis of Clinical Evidence and Its Designation as a "#1 Pharmacist Recommended Brand"

Abstract

Prevagen^® is a dietary supplement that is marketed to help with mild memory loss associated with older people. The manufacturer of the product notes that clinical evidence supports this use. Furthermore, the manufacturer notes that Prevagen^® is a "#1 Pharmacist Recommended Brand." The authors' search of the literature identified one clinical study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of Prevagen^®; however, this study possesses significant limitations and therefore one must question the merits of such clinical evidence. Prevagen^®'s designation as a "#1 Pharmacist Recommended Brand" is based on a survey facilitated by Pharmacy Times^® that is designed to identify the brand name over-the-counter products that pharmacists recommend most frequently. Because of the limited clinical data supporting Prevagen^®'s efficacy, it is likely that the survey results reflect pharmacists' familiarity with this product, which may be influenced by extensive advertising techniques. As practitioners of evidence-based medicine, pharmacists should not recommend a product with limited evidence to support its use. Furthermore, pharmacists should proactively educate their patients, especially those who are most vulnerable, about the rational use of all pharmacologically active substances, including dietary supplements.